Sanitary napkin and the like



fiept. 24, 3935, c. L. MATTHEWS SANITARY NAPKIN AND THE LIKE Filed May 19, 1935 Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY NAPKIN AND THE LIKE Catherine L. Matthews, Little Rock, Ark.

Application May 19, 1933, Serial No. 671,804 1 Claim. (01. 128290) This invention has general reference to sanitary bandages or napkins; but relates more particularly to an absorbent pad for such a device, which pad is formed from absorbent material 5 such as cotton fiber, cellulose or so-called cellulose cotton, which material may either be in the form of a plurality of superposed layers, or compressed into a unitary pad of suitable thickness.

Various special materials have been devised for the absorbent pads of sanitary napkins and the like, the principal objects of such materials being to combine ready and rapid absorption with uniform distribution of the substance absorbed throughout the pad; andspecial provision also has been made for partially enclosing such pads in catamenial sacks of silk rubber or the like, or backing them with such materials, such sacks or materials ordinarily being intended to be re-used. My present invention does not relate to the use of any specific material for the pad itself, but contemplates that any preferred, suitable absorbent material may be employed. Also, it is not intended that my improved sanitary pad shall be re-used, although re-use would be feasible, since the pad is so reinforced and held together that it would withstand washing or other cleansing operations.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve upon, and overcome the objections to,

the sanitary napkins and the like known heretofore, particularly in the following respects:

By providing for such a device an absorbent pad which shall be of form-fitting configuration, preferably with the .ends rounded and of substantially the same width as the main portion of the pad;

By providing for such a device a pad having at one side thereof a thin, flexible, moisture-proof backing, which preferably should not extend over 40 the ends or the edges of the pad;

' By providing for such a device a pad having such a backing, and with the edges of the backing, and of the main portion of the pad, reinforced by a binder, which preferably should be stitched to the pad;

By providing for such a device a pad having such a backing which preferably is so stitched as to insure that the backing will be flrmly secured to the pad, and will lie flat thereupon.

The means by which the foregoing and other desirable objects are accomplished by my present invention, and the manner of their accomplishment, readily will be understandable from the following description on reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the backing as applied to one side of the pad.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the 5 reference numeral 5 indicates the body portion of a pad which may be either a plurality of superposed layers or a single unit of compressed cotton, cellulose 01' the like. In Fig. 2 the pad is shown as a one-piece member, but, as stated 10 hereinbefore, such specific form of construction of the pad body is not involved in the present invention. Numerals 6 and 1 indicate the respective rounded ends of the pad, which are separated from the main portion by similar curvi- 15 linear neck sections which are indicated by numerals 8 and 9.

Over the body portion 5 of the pad, a cover or backing I0 is superposed, such cover or backing may have a marginal binder ll which may be of 20 cloth or any other suitable fabric, and which extends around the edge of the cover or backing I 0, the latter preferably being either cellophane, silk rubber, or other light flexible, water-proof material. As indicated in Fig. 2, marginal 25 stitching secures the backing It to the pad, preferably extending through the pad, and thereby tending to retain the pad in its original shape. This stitching may also be'used to secure the marginal binder. Diagonal lines of stitching, I2 30 and I3 respectively, also may extend from the respective corners of the backing I0, and not only assist in securing the backing to the pad but also insure its lying flat thereupon.

The endportions 6 and l of the pad preferably 35 are substantially of the same width as the main portion l0, since said end portions are utilized as securing means, and therefore should be of suflicient size for the reception of safety pins or the like. By limiting the extent of the backing 40 III to the main portion of the pad, the flexibility of the end portions 6 and 1 remains unaffected. It is, of course, contemplated that the moistureproof backing III will be extremely flexible, but it is undesirable that it shall extend over the 45 entire end of the pad, because of the unnecessary quantity of the backing material that such extension would entail, and also because it would be necessary to perforate the backing extended over the ends 6 and l in effecting securement of 50 such portions.

As stated hereinbefore, it is not intended that my improved sanitary napkin pad is to be reused, but the manner of securing the backing to the pad, particularly the marginal stitching 55 extending through the pad, is adapted to retain the shape of the pad if it be washed or otherwise cleansed, and in addition not only to prevent shifting of such backing but curling of edge portions thereof and displacement by wrinkling.

Various modifications of minor details as to the shape orother features of the device disclosed herein, doubtless readily will suggest themselves to others skilled in this art, and I therefore do not desire that my invention shall be construed as being limited to any details not specifically claimed.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what is claimed is:

An abmrbent member for a sanitary bandage comprising a flat, relatively elongated flexible pad of absorbent material, of substantially uniform thickness throughout its width and length, and

a flexible, impervious element opposing one face thereof, said element being of substantially equal Width, but 0! less length than said pad, and dising of the side and end edges thereof, said ele-' ment in width leaving the side edges of said absorbent pad free to perform their absorbent functions, and in length leaving the tab portions of said pad free for ready attachment as to supporting devices, said tab portions being available as aportion of the absorbent surface.

CATHERINE MATTHEWS. 

